Policeman on child grooming charge

A police officer working in a child abuse unit has been charged with causing or inciting a 15-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity, police said.

Detective Constable Andrew Rowe, 31, who has worked for Staffordshire Police for 12 years, is due to appear before magistrates in Burton-upon-Trent.

Rowe, who is from the Stoke-on-Trent area, was arrested on Sunday night after alleged inappropriate internet communications with the girl, a spokesman for the force said, and was charged under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The officer, who is based with the force in Stafford, is currently being detained at Burton-upon-Trent police station before he appears in court.

The girl is from Staffordshire, police said.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said Rowe was charged after the force sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

He said: "The investigation started as a result of information we received on Sunday evening and is being led by a senior officer in the force's Professional Standards Department. As with any case going through the courts it is difficult for us to comment in any specific detail on this inquiry or the allegations which this officer must answer in due course.

"However, what I will emphasise is that Staffordshire Police treats the safe-guarding and protection of children with complete and utter seriousness. It is one of our very highest policing priorities.

"With our partners we are committed to doing everything we can to protect children from harm. In this case we are giving every support we can to the 15-year-old girl and her family via a specially-trained family liaison officer. The overwhelming majority of Staffordshire police officers work hard.

"Our officers and staff are under no illusion. We will always deal swiftly and firmly with allegations of criminal misconduct by people within the force on the rare occasions that they occur."